New Reef Octopus 1000 HOB skimmer

[Dsumpter]

So I just got my new reef octopus HOB protein skimmer today. Followed the assembly and installation video but when I plugged it in and got it running, there seems to be an excessive amount of tiny air bubbles passing through the return and filling the tank with tiny air bubbles. What the heck am I doing wrong or is that just the way it will be? I put the small air valve that came with it in line with the silencer to kind of adjust the air flow to the skimmer, but it doesn't seem to make any difference. It slows the foam from over flowing the collection cup, but still a ton of air passing through the outlet. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[fishguy242]

hi ,make sure sponge rings are on bottom of return,most likely just breaking in,will slow in day or two

 

[Dsumpter]

hi ,make sure sponge rings are on bottom of return,most likely just breaking in,will slow in day or two

This is my very first experience with any kind of protein skimmer. What exactly should I be looking for as far as setting this thing. Dry skim, wet skim, I need a guide, "protein skimmer for dummies. Where do I set the collection cup, how far down into the skimmer? Where should I adjust the air flow, what should the bubbles coming up the tube look like, should they be over flowing into the cup, or no?? So many questions. Plus my display tank is still full of a ton of micro bubbles. Its been running since 4ish yesterday afternoon.

 

[fishguy242]

hi set bottom of cup right above small circle hole in body just let fill cup and go back into skimmer though cone dump tomorrow,see what happens,when settles down lower bottom of cup to cover half of hole ,may act same for a day ,dump again,that is ultimately where you want final cup level,hope this helps

 

[Kryptonian]

@fishguy242 is on it. I have the same skimmer on my 75g. It’s gonna bubble like crazy during break in but will work great! It takes about 2 days to break in. Micro bubbles are very common while breaking in a new skimmer.

 

[Dsumpter]

Thank you guys for taking your time to advise me. I will update tomorrow on how goes it. So is there no need for that air adjustment valve that goes in line with the silencer, or should I just leave that wide open?

 

[fishguy242]

not sure what adj valve ,never seen one ? i just run w silencer or wide open no silencer

 

[Kryptonian]

Thank you guys for taking your time to advise me. I will update tomorrow on how goes it. So is there no need for that air adjustment valve that goes in line with the silencer, or should I just leave that wide open?

I use the silencer but as far as that is concerned, it’s wide open. No regulator other than silencer on the intake.

Other additives such as Nopox or Stress Coat will blow up the skimmer for a few hours. Even RODI will fill a cup pretty quickly.

 

[Dsumpter]

So then is the collection cup supposed to remain full of water?

 

[Dsumpter]

 

[fishguy242]

if you dump that rt now will it immed fill back up?? post pic of returns in water

 

[Dsumpter]

Ya, I dumped it when I got home from work about an hour ago and it is that full again already.

 

[fishguy242]

just leave then another day by day,like to see return from inside tank

 

[Dsumpter]

Here ya go fishguy, I would post a short video but I'm not sure how.

 

[fishguy242]

ok slightly lower sponges just a little bit,raise your water level to bottom of trim for now,no worries this will settle down soon enough

 

[Dsumpter]

The tank is fallow for now, just some hermit crabs and a few small corals. The fish are in a QT we are about half way through treatment for an ich outbreak. So hopefully it will be all dialed in when time comes to reintroduce the fish.

 

[DMG Reef]

Here ya go fishguy, I would post a short video but I'm not sure how.

In my experience with this skimmer, the intake (right side) is way too low in your pic. You want the slats to skim the surface of the waterline. I had to cut about an inch or so off the right side to get it at the proper level on my previous tank. Now it's on my frag tank. Here's a pic of what I'm talking about.

I had all kinds of problems trying to get it dialed in until I finally trimmed it shorter so that it would skim the surface of the water.

 

[fishguy242]

In my experience with this skimmer, the intake (right side) is way too low in your pic. You want the slats to skim the surface of the waterline. I had to cut about an inch or so off the right side to get it at the proper level on my previous tank. Now it's on my frag tank. Here's a pic of what I'm talking about.

I had all kinds of problems trying to get it dialed in until I finally trimmed it shorter so that it would skim the surface of the water.

agree, missed that,but have never trimmed one ,just all the way up,was more concerned w bubbles from return

 

[DMG Reef]

agree, missed that,but have never trimmed one ,just all the way up,was more concerned w bubbles from return

I lost the sponges long ago so I do have a small tempest from the return. Just serves as additional surface agitation.

 

[fishguy242]

me too,no sponges ,but he is breaking in, not to confuse